Switch-support.



H. H. BROWN.

SWITCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1914.

1,125,952. Patented .15.11.26, 1915.

Attest: A @ml Inventor:

WKK. I by im 2 .I

ik@ @a Atty,

HARRY H. BROWN, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH-SUPPORT.

Application filed March 14. 1914.

T o all ywhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY H. BROWN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Passaic, in the county ofPassaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Switch-Supports, of which the following islaspecificatlon.

This invention relates to a device for supporting the actuating switchor push button of an alarm device upon a vehicle like an automobilewithin convenient reach of the hand of the operator while he iscontrolling the steering wheel in the usual manner.

In the present state of the art, automobiles are universally controlledby nieans of a steering wheel mounted on the end of a steering shaftplaced in oblique position in front of the usual seat of the chauffeurand which steering wheel shaft is surrounded b v a relatively rigid andfixed casing. lt is common also in the art to provide a vehicle of thiskind with an alarm or warning element electrically actuated by theclosing of a circuit, and in which circuit there is arranged a source ofelectrical energy preferably in the form of a battery carried on thevehicle, although another source of electrical energy may be, andsometimes is, employed.

In the operation of a vehicle provided with these conveniences it notinfrequently happens that an emergency arises where it is necessary forthe safety of the chauffeur and the occupants of the automobile that the$5 steering wheel should be manipulated surely and swiftly requiring theuse of both hands and at the same time that a warning signal should beinstantly and quickly given to avoid serious accidents. It has been cus-40 tomary to mount the electrical conductors leading to the electricalhorn or other similar alarm in such a manner that they terminate in apush button secured by means of an appropriate holder on the side frameof the vehicle. It therefore happens that when the chauieur is desirousof giving a warning signal at the same time that he is actuating hissteering wheel he has to reach away from thesteering wheel and touch theactuating button or switch on the horn at a distance from such wheel,thus sometimes losing control of the wheel with more or less disastrousresults.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a simple and efficientmeans whereby the actuating button or switch of the elec- Specication ofLetters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Serial No. 824,658.

trical conductors leading to the alarm element. can be pernmnentlvlsecured upon the easing ot' the steering wheel and within easy andconvenientreach of the hand of thc' operator. without the necessity forreleasing the wheel lfrom the grasp of the entire hand; in other words.to so arrange such a button or switch that it lnav be touched by onelinger of the chauffeur and thus operated while he still retains a safegrip upon the wheel.

ln the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front portion of anautomobile provided with mv invention: Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom viewof the bracket and switch button holder: and Fig. 3 is a side elevationoi the parts shown in Fig. 2. a part of the bracket being shown brokenaway to show the concealed parts.

ln the drawings. 10 represents an automobile` 11 being one of the frontwheels. 12 one of the supporting springs. 13 the body. 14 a horn ofusual construction and adapted to be electrically actuated, 15 asteering wheel. 16 its shaft. both mounted in the manner customary tothe art. and 17 the tubular casing of such steering wheel.

20 is a bracket or arm preferably made of cast metal and terminating inone semicylindrical member 21 of a strap composed of such member and acoperating semicylindrical member 22. The arm is provided along itslower side with a longitudinal recess or depression 23 and is reinforcedacross such depression by means of struts 24 having the double purposeof resisting strains transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bracketand serving to retain in position the. electrical conductors 30 placedwith` in such recess. At one extremity of the bracket there ismountedthe usual container 25 provided with a. push button indicated at 26 andwhich in the usual way is connected to the terminals of the conductors30. the other end of such terminals leading to the electrically actuatedhorn 24.

The strap made up of the two members 21 and 22 is intended and adaptedto be used in securing the bracket to the casing of the steering wheelshaft 16. To that end, the member 22 is formed at one side into a pintle27 adapted to coperate with a recessed member 28 secured to the member21 of the strap and both members 21 and 22 at their opposite extremitiesare provided with lugs indicated at 35 and 36 respectively and heldtogether by a retaining 'screw 37. In this construction parts'27 and 28constitute a hinge and the lugs 35 and c 36 with the screw 37 anappropriate fastenthe 'wheel -15 no matter what part of the` peripheryis immediately in front of the operator. `And this iixity of positiononthe part of the button enables the fingers `of the chauffeur toacquire an automatic muscular memory for the position of, the button andto actuate it in cases of necessity without conscios volition.` e

The placing of the conductors 30 within therecesson the underside of thebracket keeps them together vand prevents their en;

ltanglexnent with each' other and insures them against accidentalinjuryfrom exter- 1 nal causes.`

I claim:

- '1. Ina device of the character described,

a bracket provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending curvedrecess, said bracket having alining pairs of openings in theoppositejsides Yofthe 'and strutl members passing through said openingsin spaced relation to the bottom of said recess for retaining andprotecting conxfluctors arranged to lie in the recess.

2. In a device-of the character described,

a bracket provided with a curved recess on sides, strut members passingVthrough'said openings in spaced relation. to the-bottom of the recessfor retaining electrical conductors arranged to lie in the recess. 3. Ina device of the character described,

`the under side thereof, said recess having v alining pairs of openingsin its opposite 3e consisting of a bracket having secured to Y one endthereof a push button, and a strap member arranged on the opposite endof the bracket, an outwardly and upwardlyextending curved recessprovided on one side of 'said bracket, alining pairs of openings in theopposite sides of therecess, strut members passing through the openingsin spaced relation to the bottom of the recess for retaining electricalconductors arranged to lie v in the recess and connected .to the pushqbutton, a

. In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature 'in presence of twowitnesses.'

` HARRY HL BROvv/N.V

lVitnesses': I'

Jorm- C. Genevois, JOHN VAN BoDEGoM.

